PRESENTATION OUTLINE
16th century philosopher
Political ideas
Known for the Prince & Discourses with Lily
Early life exposed to classic writings via his father’s interest.
Later a foreign diplomat for Florence.
Return of Medici family lead to his dismissal (imprisonment and torture).
Wrote two books, poetry and plays after his diplomatic work.
What do these Machiavelli quotes say about diplomatic life in Renaissance Italy, and possibly, the philosophy of Niccolo?
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
The promise given was a necessity of the past; the word broken is a necessity of the present.
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Politics have no relation to morals.
It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles.
The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to enslave a people that wants to remain free.
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one’s own ignorance.
It is better to act and repent, than not to act and repent.
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you.
